Provided by: rubberband-cli_3.3.0+dfsg-2build1_amd64 
NAME
rubberband — an audio time-stretching and pitch-shifting utility program
SYNOPSIS
rubberband [options] [input file] [output file]
DESCRIPTION
This manual page documents briefly the rubberband command.
Rubber Band is a program that permits you to change the tempo and pitch of an audio recording
independently of one another.
OPTIONS
These programs follow the usual GNU command line syntax, with long options starting with two dashes
(`--'). A summary of options is included below.
You must specify at least one of the following time and pitch ratio options.
-t, --time X
Stretch to X times original duration, or
-T, --tempo X
Change tempo by multiple X (equivalent to --time 1/X), or
-T, --tempo X:Y
Change tempo from X to Y (same as --time X/Y), or
-D, --duration X
Stretch or squash to make output file X seconds long
-p, --pitch X
Raise pitch by X semitones, or
-f, --frequency X
Change frequency by multiple X
The following options provide ways of making the time and frequency ratios change during the audio:
-M, --timemap F
Use file F as the source for time map
A time map (or key-frame map) file contains a series of lines, each with two sample frame numbers
separated by a single space. These are source and target frames for fixed time points within the audio
data, defining a varying stretch factor through the audio. When supplying a time map you must specify an
overall stretch factor using -t, -T, or -D as well, to determine the total output duration.
--pitchmap F
Use file F as the source for pitch map
A pitch map file contains a series of lines, each with two values: the input sample frame number and a
pitch offset in semitones, separated by a single space. These specify a varying pitch factor through the
audio. The offsets are all relative to an initial offset specified by the pitch or frequency option, or
relative to no shift if neither was specified. Offsets are not cumulative. This option implies realtime
mode (-R) and also enables a high-consistency pitch shifting mode, appropriate for dynamic pitch changes.
Because of the use of realtime mode, the overall duration will not be exact.
--freqmap F
Use file F as the source for freq map
A frequency map file is like a pitch map, except that its second column lists frequency multipliers
rather than pitch offsets (like the difference between pitch and frequency options above)
The following options affect the sound manipulation and quality
-2, --fast
Use the R2 (faster) engine
This is the default (for backward compatibility) when this tool is invoked as "rubberband". It was the
only engine available in versions prior to v3.0.
-3, --fine
Use the R3 (finer) engine
This is the default when this tool is invoked as "rubberband-r3". It almost always produces better
results than the R2 engine, but with significantly higher CPU load.
-F, --formant
Enable formant preservation when pitch shifting
This option attempts to keep the formant envelope unchanged when changing the pitch, retaining the
original timbre of vocals and instruments in a recognisable way.
-c, --crisp N
Crispness (N = 0,1,2,3,4,5); default 4 (see below)
This option only has an effect when using the R2 (faster) engine. See below for details of the different
levels.
The remaining options fine-tune the processing mode and stretch algorithm. The default is to use none of
these options. The options marked (2) currently only have an effect when using the R2 engine (see -2, -3
options above).
-R, --realtime
Select realtime mode (implies --no-threads). This utility does not do realtime stream
processing; the option merely selects realtime mode for the stretcher it uses
--no-threads
No extra threads regardless of CPU and channel count (R2)
--threads Assume multi-CPU even if only one CPU is identified (R2)
--no-transients
Disable phase resynchronisation at transients (R2)
--bl-transients
Band-limit phase resync to extreme frequencies (R2)
--no-lamination
Disable phase lamination (R2)
--smoothing
Apply window presum and time-domain smoothing (R2)
--detector-perc
Use percussive transient detector (as in pre-1.5) (R2)
--detector-soft
Use soft transient detector (R2)
--window-long
Use longer processing window (actual size may vary) (R2)
--window-short
Use shorter processing window (with the R3 engine this is effectively a quick "draft mode")
--pitch-hq
In RT mode, use a slower, higher quality pitch shift
--centre-focus
reserve focus of centre material in stereo (at a cost in width and individual channel quality)
--ignore-clipping
Ignore clipping at output; the default is to restart with reduced gain if clipping occurs
-L, --loose
[Accepted for compatibility but ignored; always off]
-P, ---precise
[Accepted for compatibility but ignored; always on]
-d, --debug N
Select debug level (N = 0,1,2,3); default 0, full 3 (N.B. debug level 3 includes audible ticks
in output)
The following options are for output control and administration:
-q, --quiet
Suppress progress output
-V, --version
Show version number and exit
-h, --help
Show the normal help output
-H, --full-help
Show the full help output
"Crispness" levels:
0 equivalent to --no-transients --no-lamination --window-long
1 equivalent to --detector-soft --no-lamination --window-long (for piano)
2 equivalent to --no-transients --no-lamination
3 equivalent to --no-transients
4 equivalent to --bl-transients
5 default processing options
6 equivalent to --no-lamination --window-short (may be good for drums)
AUTHOR
Rubber Band was written by Chris Cannam <cannam@all-day-breakfast.com>.
This manual page was written by Székelyi Szabolcs <cc@mail.3d.hu> and revised in October 2022 by Dennis
Braun <snd@y0o.de> for the Debian system (but may be used by others), because the original program does
not have a manual page. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the
terms of the GNU General Public License, Version 2 any later version published by the Free Software
Foundation.
On Debian systems, the complete text of the GNU General Public License can be found in /usr/share/common-
licenses/GPL.
RUBBERBAND(1)